Has anyone had the opportunity to cast the 6 ft Ion? Any info or impressions would be great!
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Orvis Ion
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 fingernail |
Orvis Ion |
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Posts: 9 02/24/09 8:17 PM |
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keebranch |
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Posts: 1966 02/24/09 8:51 PM Administrator / Moderator |
Welcome to Ultralight Fly fishers Fingernail! I cannot say I have tried the Ion nor id I know about it. I need to ask my local Orvis shop about this one.
maybe someone else will come along who has wiggled or tried it. Les |
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jkurtz7 |
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Posts: 2509 02/24/09 9:19 PM Forum Owner / Administrator
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Welcome to the UL forums. I would like to get my hands on one to test and possibly review, that may be something to try and do in the future. These rods are
just priced so high that many of us can't afford them. With the flex rating that Orvis lists for them, they may not be a true 2wt and may need a 3wt to
load.
J. |
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flyflingerandy1 |
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Posts: 78 02/24/09 10:06 PM |
Reportedly, the Helios Ion will throw a DT1-DT4F line, meaning, of course, it is at least a 3wt or so.
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 jdub |
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Posts: 2055 02/24/09 11:42 PM Administrator
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Any chance you can try one out at an Orvis dealer? Sounds like no one here has tried one so you'll just get some guesses as to what the rod will be like. I
have a 1 wt Superfine 5.5 flex that I consider to be medium action so a 7.5 just sounds like a normal medium/fast rod to me.
A lot of guys here like to overline their rods to slow them down but there are a few of us who, along with medium action rods, also like a little faster rod and the tighter loops that come with it, so we don't mind a rod that doesn't flex way down the blank. It just depends on what you're looking for but trying one would be best and a close second would be talking to someone who *has* cast one and can compare it to a rod that *you* are familiar with. Good luck! (and welcome!) |
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jkurtz7 |
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Posts: 2509 02/25/09 12:10 AM Forum Owner / Administrator
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Chances are slim to none that my local Orvis dealer will have one of these on the rod rack. I'm have to call though and see. I am interested in the rod,
but will never as long as I live pay that much for a rod.
J. |
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jdub |
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Posts: 2055 02/25/09 12:30 AM Administrator
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I'll check out the store in Dallas next time I'm down that way. But I agree J, it's hard to even try to justify the price of a rod like this when
there are so many amazing deals on UL rods in our own classifieds.
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fingernail |
re | #7 | ||
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Posts: 9 02/25/09 9:21 AM |
Thanks guys, I don't like the price, but as we move forward to the next latest and greatest, I'm sure these rods will dive in price, I saw this with
the T3, I like the thought of the 4pc 6ft rod and they look pretty sharpe, great for the small streams here in Maine, but your right the price is really high,
I could get two cane rods for that price!! But at the that size and line weight I think graphite is the way to go.
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jkurtz7 |
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Posts: 2509 02/25/09 9:29 AM Forum Owner / Administrator
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I agree, the rod is very appealing, both in looks and ultimate portability, perfect for carrying in a day pack while your hiking into remote small streams.
Your right too, these rods will come down in price when Orvis comes out with another flagship product. I'd really like to get my hands on one, but I think that it will be like pulling teeth at the local Orvis shop to get one of these in since they don't cater to UL fishing. J. |
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flyflingerandy1 |
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Posts: 78 02/25/09 10:07 AM |
jkurtz7 wrote: These rods won't come down, they will be clearanced out when they don't sell like they hope an $800 rod line will. |
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jds |
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Posts: 17 02/25/09 9:57 PM |
The local Orvis dealer Fly Shop has the 602-4 Ion in stock, but i haven't been able to cast it yet.
It seemed kind of stiff when i wiggled it, but Helios are kind of a different breed of rod from my experience. I've got a 905-4 Mid 6.5 Helios, and it feels a little stiff on the wiggle. A friend of mine said its ERN was actually 6.62. I don't know that much about the CCS, but I use a really cheap (walmart) 5 wt line on the Helios and it loads easily whether i'm casting 15' or 65'+. All of this with minimal casting effort and (all false modesty aside) i'm truly a terrible caster. I was skeptical of the Helios hype, but i found a bargain on a secondhand rod and i love it. It has cast anything i have tried to throw with it and cast it well, from tiny stuff to big frog and mice bass bugs. it is light to the hand, like a 2 or 3 wt and very sensitive. if the 602-4 can really cast a 2wt line, i'd save up and get one for my all around rod. i'm reserving judgement until i can cast one though. btw J, if this is too much info on a non-UL rod, lmk and i'll delete the post. |
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jkurtz7 |
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Posts: 2509 02/25/09 10:24 PM Forum Owner / Administrator
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jds wrote:Your okay, you were simply letting everyone know about the Helios line in general. The Helios rods tend to be stiff overall, even the ones rated below 7.5. J. |
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flyflingerandy1 |
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Posts: 78 02/25/09 11:27 PM |
I got to wiggle the 6'6" 3wt Superfine Trout Bum the other day and honestly, I miss the old Superfines. I found this new one to be a tomato stake. It
had as much flex as the TiCr X that I cast a few months ago. Their thermoplastic resins stiffen the blank beyond comfort IMO.
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keebranch |
we're not so hardcore... | #13 | ||
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Posts: 1966 02/26/09 12:30 AM Administrator / Moderator |
No worries JDS-you're OK. we're about UL mainly but other weights will drift into the discussion occasionally - especially when describing the CCS.
Les |
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jdub |
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Posts: 2055 02/26/09 12:39 AM Administrator
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Hmmm... the 6'6" 3 wt is a full flex 3.5 and my 7'6" 1 wt is a full flex 5.5, and the 3 wt is a tomato stake? You must grow really small
tomatoes up there Andy ;-)
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flyflingerandy1 |
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Posts: 78 02/26/09 1:19 AM |
It didn't wiggle as freely as the old unsanded blank rods did. It is depressing.
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dpenrod |
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Posts: 29 02/26/09 9:12 AM |
i agree with andy's assessment of the new superfines. the new 3wt. andy describes does seem stiffer to me than the old superfine trout bum i had. yes
had, am still kicking myself for selling that one. don't know if the 3wt. is a "tomato stake", but it is definitely faster than i expected.
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jkurtz7 |
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Posts: 2509 02/26/09 9:38 AM Forum Owner / Administrator
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Quite frankly, the old unsanded Superfines were some of the best graphite rods ever made. Orvis was wrong to let them go. Maybe they weren't selling many
anymore, but you really can't improve such a classic line of rods.
J. |
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jdub |
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Posts: 2055 02/26/09 10:55 AM Administrator
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No denying the new ones are faster and the old ones have a cult following. It's just amusing to hear a rod being described as a tomato stake when it easily
flexes half-way down the blank under normal casting. :-)
Please note that I said the newer ones are "faster" than the old--I didn't say they were "fast". Go wiggle a TXL next to a Superfine ;-) And I'm certainly not saying that the new Superfines are in any way better than the old ones because I never had a chance to cast an old one and I don't doubt what you guys are saying about it. I'm just saying the new ones are not fast rods by any definition of "fast" that I've seen. I'm on my way out the door to fish my Superfine right now (Daingerfield, Les). Have a good one! Jerry |
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flyflingerandy1 |
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Posts: 78 02/26/09 11:28 AM |
Enjoy! I just don't like new technology at all.
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jkurtz7 |
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Posts: 2509 02/26/09 12:44 PM Forum Owner / Administrator
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Okay, looks like I might have a stab at getting the 6' 2wt Ion for test and evaluation, but you all will have to wait till roughly early summer for it.
J. |
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